Slidable accessory system for portable electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A slidable accessory system includes a case body configured to accommodate a portable electronic device, the case body having a case length and two tracks spanning from a track top and extending along at least a portion of the case length towards a bottom of the case body. The slidable accessory system also includes a platform having two engaging arms each of which is adapted to slidably engage within a corresponding one of the two tracks. An accessory is attachable to a top side of the platform.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to an accessory system and, more particularly, to a slidable accessory system in which one or more accessories are attachable to a platform that is slidably engaged with a case for a portable electronic device case

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic devices, such as MP3 players and smart phones, are often housed in protective covers or cases in order to protect the device from damage, provide a grip for handling the device, and/or provide a stand for propping the device on a surface. Such cases increase the effective size of the device. Expandable devices and accessories, which may be attached directly to the device or to the case protecting the device, are used for a variety of functions, including propping the device on a surface and providing an expandable grip for handling the device. The expandable devices have decorative buttons, which may display logos, decals, symbols, or other artistic renderings.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the disclose, a slidable accessory system includes a case body configured to accommodate a portable electronic device, the case body having a case length and two tracks spanning from a track top and extending along at least a portion of the case length towards a bottom of the case body, whereby the tracks are open at the bottom of the case body. The slidable accessory system also includes a platform having an elongated length, a platform height dimension, a top side, a bottom side, and two engaging arms each of which is adapted to slidably engage within a corresponding one of the two tracks. An accessory is attached to the top side of the platform

Another aspect of the disclosure is a platform for a slidable accessory system for a portable electronic device. The platform includes an elongated length having a top side and bottom side, and two engaging arms disposed on opposing sides of the elongated length, each of the engaging arms being adapted to slidably engage within a corresponding one of two tracks spanning along a case length of a case body. An accessory is attachable to the top side of the elongated length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above needs are at least partially met through the slidable accessory system for portable electronic devices described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a rear perspective view of a slidable accessory system configured in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the example platform and accessory of FIG. 1 configured in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the example platform of FIGS. 1-2 in a state decoupled from the accessory in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a front elevation view of the example platform and accessory of FIGS. 1-3 in the state in which the accessory is coupled to the platform in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIGS. 5A-5D depict rear perspective views of the slidable accessory system of FIG. 1 with various accessory types and positions;

FIGS. 6A-6B depict cross sectional views of examples of slidable accessory systems configured in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 7A-7D depict partial cross sectional views of additional examples of slidable accessory systems configured in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 8A-8C depict various views of another embodiment of a slidable accessory system configured in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally speaking, pursuant to these various embodiments, a slidable accessory system for portable electronic devices is provided that includes a slidable platform and can additionally include an accessory attached thereto, wherein the accessory may be a grip accessory including an expanding mechanism that is movable relative to the platform between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The grip accessory may further include a button coupled to the expanding mechanism. As described in more detail below, the platform is dimensioned to engage tracks formed into the sides or peripheral surfaces of a case for a portable electronic device, thereby forming a slidable engagement with the case.

FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a rear view of a slidable accessory system 10 comprising an expandable grip accessory 100, a platform 102 and a case 200 for a portable electronic device (not shown). As shown and explained in more detail below, platform 102 is configured to slidably engage within a track 210 formed along each peripheral side surface of the case 200. The expandable grip accessory 100 is attached to the platform 102, and may be detachably attached or integrally formed with the platform 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, platform 102 comprises a top or upper side 102 a and a bottom or lower side 102 b. The expandable grip accessory 100 comprises a collapsible and/or expandable mechanism or body 118 operably coupled to the platform 102, a button 117 having a top or upper side 117 a and a bottom or lower side 117 b. In some examples, the expandable grip accessory 100 further includes a storage receptacle 101 defined by the body 118 and/or the button 117.

The platform 102 may vary in shape (e.g., an elongated generally rectangular shape) and is preferably constructed from metal or plastic material, though other suitable materials can be used. In some examples, the platform 102 is at least partially constructed from a resilient material. The platform 102 has an elongated length “L” and a platform height dimension “PH”. The bottom side 102 b of the platform 102 is generally configured to abut a rear surface of the case 200 of the portable electronic device, although 102 b may be offset from the rear surface as further described below. The platform 102 additionally includes two engaging arms 104 that, generally speaking, engage with tracks formed in the peripheral sides of the case, such as track 210 described above with respect to FIG. 1.

The body 118 of the expandable grip accessory 100 generally facilitates movement of the expandable grip accessory 100 between an expanded configuration (not illustrated) and a collapsed configuration, and to retain the expandable grip accessory 100 in the desired configuration (expanded or collapsed). The expandable grip accessory 100 may be generally configured and attached to the platform 102 as described in pending U.S. application Ser. No. 17/021,535, filed on Sep. 15, 2020, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

It should be appreciated that in some examples, the accessories described herein need not be equipped with a body or a button. In these examples, the platform (e.g., the platform 102) may be used with any other suitable accessory (e.g., a battery, a wallet, a water bottle, an auxiliary screen, etc.) capable of at least temporarily coupling with the platform 102.

In the illustrated example, the platform 102 of the expandable grip device 100 includes two engaging arms 104, each of which is positioned at an end of the platform 102. The engaging arms 104 are in the form of curved members that are dimensioned to conform to and/or wrap around the sides of a case (e.g., case 200) for the portable electronic device. In other examples, the engaging arms 104 may have a non-curved configuration, but may otherwise conform to and/or wrap around the sides of a case (e.g., case 200) for a portable electronic device such that the distal ends of engaging arms 104 snap into or otherwise frictionally engage with a track formed in each side of such a case, thereby slidably securing the platform 102 (and hence the accessory 100) to the case. As can be seen in the various figures described below, the platform height dimension PH may be less than the height of the case.

In some examples, the engaging arms 104 may be constructed from a resilient material that allows a user to stretch the engaging arms outwardly to place the platform 102 around the case (e.g., case 200) of the portable electronic device. The resilience of the engaging arms 104 may cause them to “snap” into engagement with the tracks 210 disposed along the outer sides of the case (e.g., case 200). In other examples, the platform 102 may simply be slid over the outer sides of the portable case (e.g., case 200) at one of the ends thereof and subsequently slid along the tracks 210 to a desired position along the back surface of the case (e.g., case 200). Other examples are possible.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5D, depicted are rear perspective views of the slidable accessory system of FIG. 1 with various accessory types and positions. As with FIG. 1, in FIGS. 5A-5D platform 102 is slidably engaged within tracks 210 of the case 200 by way of engaging arms 104. While the platform 102 was disposed in a generally central position on the case 200 in FIG. 1, in FIG. 5A the platform 102 (and hence accessory 100) has been slid down via tracks 210 to a lower position on the case 200, thereby enabling an additional accessory 300 is occupy the central position of the case 200. While in the embodiment of FIG. 5A the additional accessory 300 is a wireless charging accessory, it should be appreciated that other types of accessories may similarly be accommodated in similar fashion. For example, FIG. 5C depicts additional accessory type in the form of a wallet 310 that is attachable to the case 200 after the platform 102 (and hence accessory 100) has been disengaged from the case 200. FIG. 5D depicts still another accessory type in the form of a combined wallet and grip accessory 320.

Tracks 210 are defined by a span on each side of the case 200 which start at a top termination 215 and extend through a bottom of the case 200. The top termination 215 defines a maximum height to which the platform 102 (and hence accessory 100) can be slid up the case 210. As described above, a resilience of the engaging arms 104 may cause them “snap” into engagement with the tracks 210 disposed along the outer sides of the case 200, or to be slid onto the tracks 210 from one end of the case 200. Alternatively, tracks 210 may be configured with one or more detents or intermediate terminations positioned along the span of the tracks 210. A variety of structures, such as a small protrusion disposed within the tracks, may be used to form such detents and to provide a point of increased slide resistance such that a user can easily detect when the platform 102 has reached a detent point and such that the platform 102 is additionally secured at such point. Meanwhile, the detents or termination(s) may be configured/positioned to physically align the platform 102 with one or more features of the portable electronic device, such as a wireless charging coil or magnetic element(s) disposed along the back of the portable electronic device or a case thereof. In addition, it should be appreciated that the top termination 215 of the track may be disposed at a location along the sides of the case 200 to similarly align the platform 102 with one or more features of the portable electronic device, such as along a rear camera of the portable electronic device whereby a filter or lens accessory that is attachable to the platform 102 can be positioned over such a camera. In an embodiment, tracks 210 extend through the bottom of the case 200 so that platform 102 (and hence accessory 100) may be removed from the case 200 by sliding the platform 102 down past the bottom of the case 200, thereby disengaging the engaging arms 104 from the tracks 210, as shown in FIG. 5B. Alternatively, tracks 210 may terminate along the sides of case 200 such that sliding of platform 102 towards the bottom of case 200 deflects arms 104 outward to disengage from tracks 210. In certain embodiments, arms 104 may be caused to deflect outward (thereby facilitating disengagement of the platform 104) based on an interface angle between a given track termination and the arms 104, such as in the form of a decreasing track depth in a direction of desired disengagement.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A-6B, depicted are cross sectional views of the slidable accessory system 10 of the present disclosure in which a portable electronic device 400 is encased and in which the accessory 100 has been decoupled from the platform 102. As shown in FIG. 6A, case 200 a is defined by a track-to-back height 220. Platform 102 is correspondingly configured with engaging arms 104 dimensioned to be able to extend to and engage tracks 210, as described above, while being disposed substantially flush against the rear surface 225 of the case 200. Similarly, in the example of FIG. 6B, case 200 b is defined by the same track-to-back height 220 as in FIG. 6A, except that the back of case 200 b is further defined by an interior inlay portion 230. Because the cases 200 a, 200 b are both defined by the same track-to-back height 220, the same dimensioned platform 102 can be slidably engaged onto both cases 200 a, 200 b even though they may have different thicknesses and/or contours. In this fashion, the slidable accessory system 10 of the present disclosure may comprise platforms (to which one or more accessories may be attached) that are interchangeably engageable with differently dimensioned cases.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7D, depicted are examples of the slidable accessory system 10 in which the case (e.g., case 200) is comprised of part different components which may or may not be comprised of different materials. With respect to the cases of FIGS. 7A-7B, each is comprised of a back section 235 that extend substantially across a back surface of a portable electronic device 400, and a side section 240 that extends substantially around the peripheral sides of the portable electronic device 400. The back section 235 extends down and over a portion of the peripheral sides of the portable electronic device 400, as shown, and in doing so overlaps a corresponding portion of the side section 240. It should be appreciated that this overlapping of the back section 235 and side section 240 provides a stronger, more protective region 250 along the sides of the portable electronic device 400 that are more likely to be subjected to impact forces. It should also be appreciated that the back section 235 and side section 240 may be permanently attached to each other in this overlapping region by use of an adhesive, for example, or may only be form fitted and therefore readily separable.

In the example of FIG. 7A, the track 245 along which the platform 102 is slidably engaged with the case is formed by a gap defined by the combination of a bottom end of the back section 235 and an indented portion of the side section 240, as shown in FIG. 7A. In the example of FIG. 7B, the track 255 along which the platform 102 slidably engages with the case is formed by a groove formed into an external surface of the back section 235 that extends down the peripheral sides of the portable electronic device 400, as shown in FIG. 7B. The example of FIG. 7B includes a larger overlapping region, which may result in a thicker overall case that provides additional force-absorbing properties as compared to the thinner case of FIG. 7A.

Unlike the case examples of FIGS. 7A-7B, the cases of FIGS. 7C-7D each comprises a back section 235 that extend substantially across a back surface of a portable electronic device 400, but which does not extend down over the peripheral sides of the portable electronic device 400. Instead, only side section 240 extends substantially around the peripheral sides of the portable electronic device 400.

In the example of FIG. 7C, the side section 240 extends beyond the back surface of the portable electronic device 400 to substantially match a height of the back section 235, thereby providing a substantially flush surface against which the platform 102 can be disposed, as shown. In the example of FIG. 7C, the side section 240 exclusively defines the track 245 along which the platform 102 slidably engages with the case.

In the example of FIG. 7D, the side section 240 again extends beyond the back surface of the portable electronic device 400, but this time extends beyond a height of the back section 235 in order to provide a rear engaging groove 255 into which the back section 235 may be fitted and thereby secured to the side section 240. Unlike the example of FIG. 7C, as a result of the side section 240 extending beyond a height of the back section 235, a gap 260 is formed between the platform 102 and the back section 235, as shown. Such a gap 260 may be provided to, for example, protect the rear surface of the case from possible scratches that may otherwise result from the platform 102 sliding against the back surface of the case.

In certain embodiments, the back section 235 of FIGS. 7A-7D may be made of a polycarbonate or similar material, while the side section 240 may be made of thermoplastic polyurethane or similar material.

In the above examples, the described tracks are disposed along side surfaces on the case. However, it should equally be appreciated that such tracks may alternatively be disposed on a back surface of the case. To that end, FIGS. 8A-8C depict an embodiment in which the slidable accessory system comprises a case 800 in which tracks 810 are disposed on a back surface of the case instead of the side surface, as with tracks 210 described above.

As with the embodiments described above, platform 102 is slidably engaged within tracks 810 of the case 800. However, instead of engaging arms, platform 102 slidably engages with case 800 by virtue of its elongated length extending into tracks 810, which are defined by the back surface of the case on the bottom side of the platform 102 and by a lip extending around and over the top side of the platform, as shown in FIG. 8B. As described above, the platform 102 (and hence accessory 100) may be slid down via tracks 810 to a lower position on the case 800, thereby enabling other accessories to occupy the central position of the case 800.

Tracks 810 are defined by a span on each side of the case 200 which start at a top termination and extend to a closed bottom of the case 800, as shown in FIG. 8A. Alternatively, the tracks 810 may extend through the bottom of the case 800 to facilitate removal of the platform 102 (and hence accessory 100) by sliding the platform 102 down past the bottom of the case 200, as shown in FIG. 8C. Moreover, a variety of structures, such as a small protrusion disposed within the tracks 810, may be used to form detents to provide a point of increased slide resistance such that a user can easily detect when the platform 102 has reached a detent point and such that the platform 102 is additionally secured at such point. Case 800 may also comprise one or more detents or terminations positioned along the span of the tracks 810, as described above with reference to case 200.

In some instances, the expandable grip accessory of the current disclosure may be in the form of a commercially available grip and stand product such as that available on www.popsockets.com. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,560,031, filed on Feb. 23, 2012; U.S. Pat. No. 9,970,589, filed on Nov. 9, 2017; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/615,900, filed on Jun. 7, 2017; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/679,934, filed on Aug. 17, 2017; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/803,410, filed on Nov. 3, 2017; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/808,076, filed on Nov. 9, 2017; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/864,402, filed on Jan. 8, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/864,509, filed on Jan. 8, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/906,920, filed on Feb. 27, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/922,601, filed on Mar. 15, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/952,025, filed on Apr. 12, 2018; U.S. application Ser. No. 15/993,458, filed on May 30, 2018; and U.S. application Ser. No. 16/001,723, filed on Jun. 6, 2018 each describe suitable expandable grip and stand product, which also incorporate collapsible mechanisms, the entirety of each being hereby incorporated by reference.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.

The patent claims at the end of this patent application are not intended to be construed under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless traditional means-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as “means for” or “step for” language being explicitly recited in the claim(s). 

1. A slidable accessory system comprising: a case body configured to accommodate a portable electronic device, the case body having a case length and two tracks spanning from a track top and extending along at least a portion of the case length towards a bottom of the case body, whereby the tracks are open at the bottom of the case body; a platform having an elongated length, a platform height dimension, a top side, a bottom side, and two engaging arms each of which is adapted to slidably engage within a corresponding one of the two tracks; and an accessory attached to the top side of the platform, wherein the platform and accessory are movable along the two tracks between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to a central position on the case body, and wherein the slidable accessory system is configured to accommodate a further accessory in the first position when the platform and accessory are in the second position.
 2. The slidable accessory system of claim 1, wherein the engaging arms are disposed on opposing ends of the elongated length of the platform.
 3. The slidable accessory system of claim 1, wherein the two tracks are disposed on opposing side surfaces of the case body.
 4. The slidable accessory system of claim 3, wherein the elongated length of the platform extends across an entire back surface of the case body, and wherein each of the engaging arms is configured to extend over a portion of the opposing side surfaces to meet and slideably engage with a corresponding one of the two tracks.
 5. The slidable accessory system of claim 1, wherein the platform is configured to engage to and disengage from the case body from the bottom of the case body.
 6. The slidable accessory system of claim 5, wherein the track top defines a maximum height along the case length to which the platform can be slid up from the bottom of the case body while engaged in the two tracks.
 7. The slidable accessory system of claim 1, wherein the two tracks further comprise one or more detents each of which is configured to provide a point of increased slide resistance.
 8. The slidable accessory system of claim 1, wherein the two tracks further comprise at least one terminations configured to align the platform with a corresponding at least one feature of the portable electronic device.
 9. The slidable accessory system of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a grip accessory adapted to be removably coupled to the platform, the grip accessory comprising: an accessory body including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis, the second end of the accessory body being operably coupled with the platform, the accessory body being movable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration; and a button operably coupled with the first end of the accessory body.
 10. The slidable accessory system of claim 9, wherein the accessory body further includes a release mechanism adapted to releasably couple the accessory body with the platform.
 11. The slidable accessory system of claim 9, wherein the accessory body and the button cooperate to define a storage receptacle.
 12. The slidable accessory system of claim 1, wherein the two tracks are disposed on a back surface of the case body.
 13. A platform for a slidable accessory system for a portable electronic device, the platform comprising: an elongated length having a top side and bottom side; and two engaging arms disposed on opposing sides of the elongated length, each of the engaging arms being adapted to slidably engage within a corresponding one of two tracks spanning along a case length of a case body, wherein an accessory is attached to the top side of the elongated length, wherein the platform and accessory are movable along the two tracks between at least a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to a central position on the case body, and wherein the slidable accessory system is configured to accommodate a further accessory in the first position when the platform and accessory are in the second position.
 14. The platform of claim 13, wherein the engaging arms are disposed on opposing ends of the elongated length of the platform.
 15. The platform of claim 13, wherein the two tracks are disposed on opposing side surfaces of the case body.
 16. The platform of claim 15, wherein the elongated length of the platform is configured to extend across an entire back surface of the case body, and wherein each of the engaging arms is configured to extend over a portion of the opposing side surfaces to meet and slideably engage with a corresponding one of the two tracks.
 17. The platform of claim 13, wherein the platform is configured to engage to and disengage from the case body from a case bottom along which the two tracks are open to receive the two engaging arms.
 18. The platform of claim 13, wherein the accessory comprises a grip accessory adapted to be removably coupled to the platform, the grip accessory comprising: an accessory body including a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis, the second end of the accessory body being operably coupled with the platform, the accessory body being movable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration; and a button operably coupled with the first end of the accessory body.
 19. The platform of claim 18, wherein the platform comprises a release mechanism adapted to releasably couple the accessory body with the platform.
 20. The platform of claim 18, wherein the accessory body and the button cooperate to define a storage receptacle.
 21. The platform of claim 13, wherein the two tracks are disposed on a back surface of the case body. 